Harn captures the outdoors

The Sutter Buttes consume a large portion of the Yuba-Sutter horizon — and they change every day, which makes them a great subject for art.

That's according to local artist Jo Harn. "When I drive out there, it's never the same," she said. "There's always something different about the Buttes. Every quarter of a mile, the colors are different or the view is different."

Harn enjoys painting watercolors of the Buttes and is currently exhibiting her works at the Yuba-Sutter Regional Arts Council in Marysville.

The opening reception for "Plein Air — Captured by Jo Harn" is Sunday.

"Plein Air" means the outdoors, according to Harn. "All of my artwork is outdoors," she said. "I've been doing the Buttes a lot; it's great fun."

Harn, a Yuba City resident for the past six years, previously lived in Loma Rica for 25 years and a variety of other places.

"I've been painting on and off my whole life — ever since I was a little kid," she said. She is 84 years old.

Throughout her life, she has painted more locations than just the Buttes. "I've traveled a lot and have done a lot of coastal scenes in Fort Bragg and places like that," she said.

With her subjects mostly being outdoor scenes, she brings sketch books when she sees something that attracts her attention.

"Then I like to capture the view and the mood of the scene," she said. "Because I live alone, I do a lot of driving by myself. ... I will sometimes make a lot of quick sketches while sitting in my car. Or I'll take a few pictures and go from there."

Many of her sketch books are also in the exhibition. "Those are for people to get ideas if they want to do it," she said.

"Plein Air — Captured by Jo Harn" will be on display at the Yuba-Sutter Regional Arts Council to Sept. 17.

Harn said her next project will expand on her interest in painting the outdoors: "Next, I'll do rivers."